A man has been jailed after forensic evidence linked him to the scene of a burglary in Sandwell last year.
Ionut Dobre, aged 31 broke in to a property in Smethwick by smashing a window on 2 March in broad daylight, just after 3pm.
Items such as cash, clothes, iPads, cigarettes and jewellery were stolen from the property amounting to the value of more than £10,000.
Forensic officers attended the address and swabs were taken of blood left on a shard of glass from the smashed window. The swabs were analysed and DNA matched to Dobre.
After attempting to evade police, Dobre was then arrested at Luton Airport last December after arriving back in the country. He was subsequently charged with burglary and remanded in custody.
Dobre of no fixed abode appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday (24 Jan) and was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.
DI Phil Griffiths from Sandwell Police said: “Dobre committed a very serious offence and stole valuable items from an innocent member of the public.
“He then tried to abscond from police but we caught up with him.
“No one should feel unsafe in their home and we are doing all we can to bring offenders to justice.”
In a police statement, the force added: “Tackling residential burglary remains a priority for West Midlands Police, with regular patrols and disruption activity carried out daily by our teams.”
Officers are urging members of the public to take these cautionary steps to protect their homes and possessions from criminals:
Find out more about reporting residential burglaries and gain more advice for securing your home, visit the West Midlands Polcie website here.
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